CLANGING gongs and beating drums were the background noise to testimony yesterday by leaders of an alleged political hit squad that might bring down East Timor's embattled Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri.
Two United Nations prosecutors were heading up to this ruined centuries-old Portuguese fort to interview Vincente da Conceicao, or "Commander Railos", leader of 30 former anti-Indonesian guerillas camped here who say they were armed on Mr Alkatiri's orders as a secret security force of the ruling Fretilin party.
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Mr Railos is believed to have told Mr Horta that they were commissioned at a meeting in Mr Alkatiri's official residence on May 7, with the Prime Minister and then interior minister Rogerio Lobato, who was in charge of the police. He said Mr Alkatiri told Mr Lobato: "Make sure these comrades are provided with weapons."
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